News and updates from OutRight

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Dear Friends,

The pandemic continues to affect how we live, work and travel, impacting those most marginalized in societies, such as LGBTIQ people, more than many others. OutRight is determined to continue building alliances and connections between activists and allies to promote human rights for LGBTIQ people everywhere.

For the seventh year in a row we are gearing up to host OutSummit, our annual global convening for LGBTIQ equality. For the second time it will be held virtually, enabling diverse stakeholders from our movement across the world to participate. Sessions will take place from December 8 to 10, 2021, and be catered to include participants across different time zones.

I’m excited to announce that our first keynote speaker this year will be Gigi Chao ([link removed]) (she/her), a prominent and publicly outspoken advocate ([link removed]) for LGBTIQ rights in Asia. Gigi is co-founder of Hong Kong Marriage Equality, and founder of Faith in Love Foundation. I’m thrilled that she will be sharing her story with us!

The OutSummit theme this year centers on a basic demand - human rights for LGBTIQ people everywhere! Sessions will cover topics ranging from eliminating harmful sexual orientation and gender identity change practices, to engaging the corporate sector to advance LGBTIQ inclusion, and from ensuring authentic and accurate LGBTIQ representation in the media, to countering backlash around the world.

Registration ([link removed]) for OutSummit 2021 is open and we invite you to register today!

The Board of Directors, global staff at OutRight, and I look forward to welcoming you there!


Maria Sjödin
they/them
Acting Executive Director
OutRight Action International

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Many thanks to the supporters who make OutSummit possible, including: Founding Sponsor Small Change Foundation, Signature Sponsor Anita May Rosenstein Foundation, the David Bohnett Foundation, Seattle Pride, and the following corporate partners: Adobe Foundation, Barclays, Boohoo Group, Critical Role Foundation, Dell Technologies, Everest Group, Groupe Dynamite, Herman Miller Inc., Hunter Boot, JAMF, JIMDO, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Kering, Lackadaisy, Levi Strauss & Co., Michael Kors, Microsoft Corporation, Nomura Holdings America, Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality (PGLE) - a World Economic Forum Lighthouse Project, Procter & Gamble Company, Revolut, Scotiabank, The Walt Disney Company, TomTom N.V., Waterdrop, World Bank Group GLOBE, and Zynga.

OutSummit sponsorship opportunities for individual donors and institutions can be reviewed here ([link removed]) . To discuss event sponsorship, contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Please%20send%20me%20information%20about%20sponsoring%20OutSummit) .
Monthly Highlights
* During the high-level week of the General Assembly at the United Nations, the UN LGBTI Core Group held the event ([link removed]) “Leaving No One Behind: Decriminalization of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.” Speakers positioned continuing criminalization of same-sex relations and trans identities as a key obstacle to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
* OutRight hosted a webinar presenting findings of our recent report into censorship of LGBTIQ websites and content on line in six countries. If you missed the webinar, watch it here ([link removed]) .
* One of the goals of OutRight's UN work is to broaden support for LGBTIQ people, so we were thrilled when 59 countries signed on to a statement ([link removed]) calling for full decriminalization of same-sex relations and gender identity by 2030.

GET TO KNOW US


** Meg Rosensweet
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Meg (she/her) is the Executive Assistant based in New York. Meg supports the Acting Executive Director, and plays a key role in organizing OutSummit, OutRight’s annual global convening for LGBTIQ equality. Meg is passionate about queer and trans advocacy, gender equality and mental health. Outside of work Meg is a keen scriptwriter, and ardent fan (and sometimes participant) of stand up comedy and drag performance.

OutRight in the Media
* Acting Executive Director Maria Sjödin spoke to the Daily Beast ([link removed]) about the challenges facing LGBTIQ people in Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban takeover.
* Senior Research Advisor Amie Bishop wrote an opinion piece ([link removed]) for Gay Times about OutRight’s latest research into online censorship of LGBTIQ websites in six countries.
* Thomson Reuters ([link removed]) quotes OutRight's report into the global reach of harmful conversion practices in their investigation into the topic.

TERM OF THE MONTH




** Bisexuality
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September 23 was the annual Celebrate Bisexuality Day. The term bisexual refers to someone who is sexually and/or emotionally attracted to two or more genders. It is also increasingly used to describe sexual and/or emotional attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity.

Upcoming Events
* OutSummit ([link removed]) , OutRight’s annual global conference for the human rights of LGBTIQ people, will take place virtually on December 8-10. OutSummit is held to coincide with and in honor of Human Rights Day, marked annually on December 10, in order to serve as a reminder that the human rights of LGBTIQ people are human rights. This year’s theme goes back to basics - human rights for LGBTIQ people everywhere!

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Register ([link removed]) for OutSummit, and encourage your friends and colleagues to join! To help you promote the event we have created this social media toolkit ([link removed]) .
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